The Rundown for Jan. 17, 2019

FOUR AMERICANS DEAD IN ISIS ATTACK… Four Americans were killed and three others were wounded yesterday in a suicide attack in the northern Syria city of Manbij. ISIS immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, which was revealed just hours after U.S. Vice President Mike Pence declared that the militant Islamic group “has been defeated.” The dead included two U.S. service members, one Department of Defense civilian employee and one American contractor, according to the Pentagon.

PELOSI UNINVITES TRUMP FOR SOTU… House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has rescinded President Trump’s invitation to deliver his scheduled State of the Union address in the House chamber on January 29, claiming the current government shutdown poses a security risk. Pelosi noted that the Secret Service is part of Homeland Security, which is one of nine government departments in a partial shutdown. “Sadly, given the security concerns and unless government re-opens this week, I suggest that we work together to determine another suitable date after government has re-opened for this address or for you to consider delivering your State of the Union address in writing to the Congress on January 29th,” Pelosi wrote yesterday in a letter to Trump.

SENATE EASES SANCTIONS ON OLIGARCH’S COMPANIES… The Senate yesterday upheld the Treasury Department’s decision to lift sanctions from three companies connected to Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska. A 57-42 vote came up just short of the 60 votes needed to keep the sanctions intact. 11 Republicans crossed the aisle to vote with Democrats. The Treasury Department announced last month that the U.S. would lift sanctions on the companies linked to Deripaska, who will remain blacklisted as part of measures announced last spring against tycoons with close ties to the Kremlin.

OXYCONTIN MANUFACTURERS MISLED PUBLIC… The owners of OxyContin manufacturer Purdue Pharma misled doctors and patients for years about the dangers of the opioid, according to previously unreleased emails. Former company President Richard Sackler instructed executives to try to push blame onto people who had become addicted, according to a 2001 email. Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey has filed suit against Purdue Pharma and eight Sackler family members for allegedly contributing to the state’s opioid epidemic through its marketing of OxyContin. The drug has been on the market since 1996 and is blamed for the deaths of more than 200,000 people due to overdoses.

INSPECTOR GENERAL REPORT TARGETS TRUMP HOTEL LEASE… The Inspector General of the General Services Administration released a report yesterday claiming that Office of General Counsel lawyers “ignored” the Constitution when allowing President Trump to keep his lease of the Old Post Office Building in D.C. for his hotel. Trump took over the Old Post Office in 2014, but its possible violation of the Emoluments Clause prohibiting the president from receiving a fee or profit from foreign governments was not discussed among OGC lawyers until the 2016 election. A number of foreign states have spent money at the Trump International Hotel since Trump took office, the report notes.

ENTERTAINMENTNETFLIX ORDERS ‘SPACE FORCE’ COMEDY SERIES… Netflix has ordered the comedy series “Space Force” from “The Office” alumni Steve Carell andGreg Daniels. The series is described as a workplace comedy centered around the people tasked with creating a sixth branch of the armed services. Carell will star in the series and serve as executive producer. A premiere date will be announced later.

CHRIS HANSEN ARRESTED FOR WRITING BAD CHECKS… Former Dateline NBC’s “To Catch a Predator” host Chris Hansen has surrendered to police after being charged with writing $13,000 in bad checks. According to the New York Post, the 59-year-old Hansen had a warrant out for his arrest after a promotional merchandise company in Stamford, Connecticut, accused him of sending two bad checks for the purchase of “355 ceramic mugs, 288 T-shirts and 650 vinyl decals” in 2017. “To Catch a Predator” was canceled in 2008, but Hansen unsuccessfully sought an online reboot of the show in 2015. If convicted, he could reportedly face a $5,000 fine and up to five years in prison.

Brooklyn 145 – HOUSTON 142 (OT)… Spencer Dinwiddie scored 25 of his 33 points after the third quarter and had 10 assists as the Nets outgunned the Rockets. Jarrett Allen had 20 points and 24 boards. DeMarre Carroll contributed 22 points off the bench. Treveon Graham tossed in 21. James Harden’s 58 points and 10 rebounds weren’t enough for Houston.

San Antonio 105 – DALLAS 101… The Spurs erased a 19-point first-half deficit on their way past the Mavericks. Davis Bertans’ 3-pointer with 1:41 remaining gave San Antonio the lead for good. Fellow reserve Marco Belinelli led a balanced scoring attack with 17 points.

PORTLAND 129 – Cleveland 112… Damian Lillard lit it up for 33 points and the Trail Blazers cruised past the Cavaliers. Five other players scored in double figures for Portland.

Utah 129 – L.A. CLIPPERS 109… Donovan Mitchell scored a game-high 28 points and Rudy Gobert piled up 23 points and 22 boards as the Jazz thrashed the Clippers. Jae Crowder came off the bench to toss down 23 points of his own.

GOLDEN STATE 147 – New Orleans 140… The Warriors overcame a 17-point first-half deficit to outgun the Pelicans and win their sixth in a row. The teams combined to make 42 3-pointers and set an NBA record for the most made in one game. Stephen Curry led the way with 41 points. Kevin Durant finished with 30 points and 15 rebounds. Draymond Green tossed in 17 points to go with his 14 assists.

TONIGHT’S NBA SCHEDULE…
New York is at Washington…
Charlotte hosts Sacramento…
Philadelphia is at Indiana…
Toronto hosts Phoenix…
Chicago is at Denver…
Oklahoma City hosts the L.A. Lakers

NHL SCORES…OTTAWA 5 – Colorado 2… Matt Duchene found the net twice and had an assist in leading the Senators past his former team. Goalie Anders Nilsson made 30 saves.

PHILADELPHIA 4 – Boston 3… Sean Couturier netted three straight goals spanning the second and third periods to record his first regular-season hat trick and push the Flyers past the Bruins. Carter Hart stopped 39 shots at goal.

Buffalo 4 – CALGARY 3 (OT)… Jack Eichel scored the game-winner at 1:10 of overtime and had an assist in regulation to lead the Sabres past the Flames. Goalie Linus Ullmark made 30 saves.

ARIZONA 6 – San Jose 3… The Coyotes scored twice in each period to double up on the Sharks. Six different players found the net. Lawson Crouse and Christian Fischer each had a goal and an assist.

TONIGHT’S NHL SCHEDULE…
Chicago is at the N.Y. Rangers…
the N.Y. Islanders host New Jersey…
St. Louis is at Boston…
Tampa Bay hosts Toronto…
Anaheim is at Minnesota…
Nashville hosts Winnipeg…
Los Angeles is at Dallas